Data Analyst - MIS Project

Job DescriptionPurpose of Position The Data Analyst will support the recommencement and delivery of NCI's Management Information System (MIS) Project, which will provide trusted, on-demand institutional and operational reports for governance, statutory reporting, planning and decision-making. Reporting to the Software Development and Reporting Manager and working closely with the Business Analyst and relevant business leads, the role will lead the analysis, cleansing, validation and definition of the data used in reports. The postholder will ensure that datasets and outputs are accurate, consistent, traceable and supported by agreed institutional definitions.

The project will be delivered in phases. Phase 1 will focus on student, programme, assessment, progression and HEA-related reporting, primarily using Student Information Systems (Quercus) data. Later phases will consider staff, other institutional and research reporting and may require data from multiple systems, spreadsheets and documents, together with new data stores, integrations or data migration.

Key Relationships: MIS Project Sponsor and MIS Steering Group Software Development Manager / MIS Project Lead Business Analyst QIE, Registry, Admissions and Student Records, Assessment and Examinations, and Schools Finance, HR, Research and other relevant business leads External system suppliers, implementation partners and consultants, where required Key Responsibilities: Data Analysis and Quality Review and validate the existing applications, enrolment and overall grade datasets and assess their continued suitability following changes to NCI's programme portfolio. Profile source data to identify gaps, duplication, inconsistencies and quality risks, and agree corrective actions with data owners. Lead data cleansing, reconciliation and validation for student, programme, assessment, progression, completion and retention data.

Develop repeatable data-quality checks and reconciliations to support reliable reporting and reduce reliance on manual processes. Data Definitions and Governance Identify and document the authoritative systems, tables and fields to be used for each report. Develop and maintain data definitions, business rules, data dictionaries, source-to-report mappings and data-lineage records.

Work with business leads to agree consistent definitions for key measures, including student, enrolment, progression, retention and completion. Ensure data is handled in accordance with NCI policies and applicable data-protection, confidentiality, access-control, retention and information-security requirements. Reporting and Technical Delivery Work with the Business Analyst and Software Development Manager to translate business requirements into clear data and reporting specifications.

Create and maintain queries, datasets and data models required to support institutional and operational reports. Assess data held in spreadsheets, documents or disconnected systems and recommend appropriate storage, integration and migration approaches. Where required, contribute to database design and setup and lead the validation and migration of data into approved data stores.

Prepare feasibility assessments and recommendations for the data sources and technical approaches required for later project phases. Testing and Assurance Test datasets, calculations and report outputs against agreed definitions and source records and retain appropriate test evidence. Investigate and support the resolution of data and reporting defects.

Support user acceptance testing, business sign-off and the controlled release of reports into operational use. Stakeholder Engagement and Transition Engage with data owners and business leads to clarify requirements, resolve data issues and secure agreement on definitions and outputs. Provide clear progress updates, maintain assigned risks and issues and escalate significant concerns to the Project Lead.

Produce technical and user documentation and support the transition of completed datasets and reporting processes into business as usual. Provide knowledge transfer and practical support to relevant staff during implementation and handover. Person Specification: Demonstrable experience analysing, profiling, cleansing and validating data from complex operational systems.

Strong SQL skills and experience querying relational databases. Strong experience with Microsoft Dynamics 356 CRM. Experience developing data mappings, data dictionaries, business rules and repeatable validation processes.

Experience combining and reconciling data from multiple systems and file-based sources, including advanced use of Microsoft Excel. Experience supporting reporting or business-intelligence solutions and testing calculations and outputs. Ability to translate business questions and definitions into clear data requirements and specifications.

Experience working with personal or confidential data and applying appropriate data-protection and security controls. Strong analytical, problem-solving, documentation and communication skills. Ability to manage priorities, work collaboratively and deliver to agreed project milestones.

Experience in higher education and with student information systems, particularly Quercus or a comparable enterprise system, is desirable. Knowledge of assessment, progression, retention, completion, programme review or HEA reporting is desirable. Experience with Power BI or another business-intelligence and data-visualisation platform is desirable.

Experience designing data models, supporting ETL processes, establishing databases or migrating legacy data is desirable. Qualifications Required: A relevant third-level qualification in data analytics, computer science, information systems, statistics or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience. Skills & Competencies: Data analysis and critical thinking Accuracy and attention to detail SQL, relational databases and data modelling Data profiling, cleansing, validation and reconciliation Advanced Microsoft Excel and business-intelligence tools Data governance, data protection and information security Stakeholder engagement and clear communication Technical and user documentation Planning, organisation and delivery Collaboration, integrity and confidentiality Contract: Fixed-term contract for 18 months Salary: Manager Salary Band (€53,836 to €75,508) Annual Leave: 27 days per annum pro rata Hours: Full time - 35 hours per week Candidates must have a valid work permit to work in Ireland The successful applicant will be subject to Garda Vetting and must not have any convictions under the Sex Offenders Act 2001.

Note: The functions and responsibilities assigned to this role are based on the current stated role and objectives of the college. These functions and responsibilities may alter in line with any change in the role and objectives of the NCI. The Importance of Confidentiality We would like to assure you that protecting confidentiality is our number one priority.

You can expect that all enquires, applications and all aspects of the proceedings are treated as strictly confidential and are not disclosed to anyone, outside those directly involved in that aspect of the process. Candidates' Obligations In submitting a completed Curriculum Vitae and supporting documentation, candidates are declaring: That all the particulars furnished in their application are true and correct without omission and that they are aware of the qualifications and particulars for this position. That to the best of their knowledge that there is nothing in relation to their conduct, character or personal background of any nature that would adversely affect the position of trust in which they would be placed by virtue of this appointment.

Their irrevocable consent to NCI making such enquiries as deemed necessary in respect of their suitability for the post in respect of which their application is made. Their acceptance and confirmation of the entitlement of NCI, as appropriate to, reject their application, or to terminate their employment (in the event of a contract of employment having been entered into on foot of this competition) if they have omitted to furnish NCI with any information relevant to their application or their continued employment or where they have made any false statement or misrepresentation relevant to this application or their continuing employment with the College. #LI-DNI Candidates should note that they may be required to submit documentary evidence in support of any particulars given by them in their application for the post. Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018 and the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 to 2014 as amended Data collected for the purposes of recruitment activities NCI conducts recruitment processes to fill vacancies within the college.

When applying for these competitions applicants are asked to submit a range of documents, e.g., a completed application form, CV and/or a personal statement or cover letter. For the purposes of recruitment activities, we will not collect any personal data that we do not need to assess your candidature for a role with us. Legal Basis for Processing NCI 's legal basis for the processing of this data is a combination of individual consent, contractual necessity and legal obligations.

Withdrawal of Consent Applicants can withdraw their consent for the processing of their personal data at any time by notifying the College. It is important to note that withdrawal of consent prior to the completion of the process will be considered as a withdrawal of the application. What we do with your data People who are directly employed by NCI and are based in Ireland process all the personal data collected for both recruitment and HR purposes.

Shortlisting HR draft up the shortlisting documents and provide the initial screening to determine if a person meets the essential criteria of the competition. A shortlisting panel is generally made up of two senior grade staff members from the relevant department for which the role is being recruited. Sharing of your data Where you have been successfully shortlisted for a post, each interview panel member will be furnished with a copy of the relevant information of those who will be attending interview in order that they can review applications in advance of the interview process.

All such information will be returned to NCI and shredded following the competition process. Some of the interview panel will be external interviewers, who are not employees of NCI but are engaged for the purpose and are strictly subject to the rules and policies of the College. Access Applicants can request and receive access to their data at any time and can request and receive a copy of this data, in electronic/transferable format.

Erasure Applicants can request the data held be erased. In this case, the application for a position is considered withdrawn. Rectification Applicants can have any incorrect information corrected.

Objection / Withdraw Applications can object to this information being processed and/or can request to withdraw from the application process Complain Applicants can make a complaint to our internal Information Governance and Data Protection Officer NCI Information Governance and Data Protection Officer National College of Ireland, Mayor Street, IFSC, Dublin 1 Tel (Direct): + ; Tel (Reception): + And/or make a complaint to the relevant authority Data Protection Commission, 21 Fitzwilliam Square South, Dublin 2, D02 RD28 Tel: National College of Ireland is an equal opportunities employer and is a Member of the Athena SWAN Charter. NCI is committed to serving our diverse community and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups. To be considered for this role you will be redirected to and must complete the application process on our careers page.

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